Automatic window



(N0 Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. W. TIDD.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW.

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Patented Mar. 9,1897.

(No Model.) W AW TIDD n 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW.

VNo. 578,475. Patented Mar. 9, 1897.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

WILLIAM W'. ITIDD, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW.

l SPECIFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,475, dated March 9, 1897.

Application iiled February 4, 1896. Serial No. 578,041. (No model.) i

T all whom it Wray concern:

y Beit known that LWVILLIAM WV. TIDD,aciti zen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Automatic lVindow, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in windows, and is designed especially for use upon railway and street cars, being, however, veasily adaptable to public buildings and private dwellings, steamboats, steamships, &c.

The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic window which will be thoroughlydust and rain proof and thus dispense with the use of double windows in sleeping-cars, at the same time dispensing with all weights, cords, or pulleys. A window constructed as herein contemplated will also obviate all sticking or jamming, is self fastening or locking, will not rattle, and combines simplicity with ease of operation and through the spring-roller.

is capable of any desired degree of ornamentation.

To this end the invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the improved window and its frame complete ready for insertion in the frame of a car-body or other structure. Fig. 2 is a similar view looking from the opposite side, the sash being partly raised. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section showing the window and its frame applied to a car-body. Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the spring-block.- Fig. 6 is a similar view of the central portion of the roller-spring. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section through the window-fastener. Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal section through one side of the window-casing. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail cross-section through the spring-roller, taken centrally. Fig. -10 is a detail perspective view of the sash-check used in connection with the improved window, showing portions of the window sash and framein section.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding drawings.

Referring to the drawings, l designates the window frame or casing, which is preferably cast or otherwise formed of a single piece of metal. I prefer to use aluminium in the construction of the window casing and sash to be hereinafter more particularly described; but the said parts may, however, be formed of iron, steel, brass, or other metal, and nickel-plated or burnished or given any other desired ornamental finish. In this way the sash and its frame may be primarily iitted together-with the utmost nicety, and thereafter all rattling and admission of dust, rain, dec., will be obviated, and at the same time, on account of the non-liability of the sash and its frame to swell or be otherwise alected by the Weather, there will be no chance of the sash sticking or jamming within the frame, which would interfere with the easy working of the same-an annoyance frequently encountered in railway and street cars as constructed at the present day.

The window-frame 1 is of open rectangular form, and of course is constructed of the particular size desired and also has a transverse extent equal to the thickness of the double wall in which it is located, including the intervening space between such double wall. The window-frame 1 is also provided at about its transversecenter with an inwardly-projecting iiange 2, extending vertically upon both sides of the frame and also across the base or sill of the frame, as shown. This flange is preferably formed integrallywith the main frame or casing 1, and is provided inits inner edge with a longitudinal groove parts in the several figures of the 8. The groove in the lower horizontal connecting portion of the iiange 2 extends downwardly entirely through said flange and the sill of the windowframe, communicating with the space between the double walls, so that any dust, dirt, or rain which may progress inwardly asfar as said groove or opening will descend therethrough and be prevented from entering within the car.

The window-sash (indicated at 4) fits snugly between the vertical portions of the flange 2 and rests upon the connecting horizontal portion of the flange, and, when elevated, works ICO through aslot 5, extending longitudinally and about centrally of the top or cap piece of the window-frame. The grooves 3 in the inner edges of the vertical portions of ihe flange 2 open out through the cap-piece of the windowframe and receive beads or tongues 6, projecting laterally from the opposite edges of the side bars of the window-sash, said tongues extending longitudinally of such side bars and being preferably formed integrally therewith, the said window-sash, as heretofore stated, being cast or otherwise formed from a single piece of metal. The bottom rail of the sashv has also formed thereon a downwardly-projecting tongue 7, formed as a continuation of the sidetongues 6, and adapted to enter the groove or opening in the horizontal connecting portion of the flange 2 when the sash is closed. The tongues or beads 6 and 7 serve as cut-offs for the dust, cinders, rain, &c., and as they iit snugly within their respective grooves the admission of such matter to the interior of the car or other structure is rendered impossible. The sash 4 is constructed so that its top rail projects a considerable distance above the plane ofthe upper surface of the cap of the win dowframe, as shown at 8, thereby preventing the admission of dust, duc., at this point.

In order to provide for the introduction-of a pane of glass, the Vertical side rails of the window-sash are rabbeted, as indicatedI at 9, and the top rail of the sash. is formed in its lower edge with a groove 10, the latter being in effect an upward extension of the rabbets 9. The groove 10 is made of sufficient depth to allow the pane of glass to be moved upwardly until its lower edge passes above the upper edge of the lower rail of the sash, and as such lower rail is Jformed with a groove 11 the glass may descend into such groove, but not sufiiciently, however, to withdraw its upper edge out of engagement with the groove 10. Afterthe glass isintroduced in the manner just describedthe edges thereof may be puttied or otherwise secured to prevent rattling and breakage.

In order to still further guard against the passage of dust, che., through the opening 5 in the top of the window-frame, a deflectingstrip12 of ay right-angular shape in cross-section and having its hypotenuse hollowed or concaved is located in the corner between the cap-pieceof the window-frame and the vertical portions of the liange 2, exteriorly of the sliding sash, as shown. This directs the dust, dac., downward and prevents its upward passage through the opening 5. The vertical side rails of the window-sash 4are extended somedistance above the top rail of the sash, and these vupwardly-extended ends, as well as the entire length of said side bars, are formed with indent-ations or sockets 13, whereby each of said side rails is constituted a rack-bar, the same being adapted to cooperate with the teethof a spring-roller whichiwill now be described.

The spring-roller (indicated at 14) is in the form of a hollow cylindrical shell or tube of any convenient diameter and of a length corresponding to the distance between the opposite side portions of the window-casing 1, the latter being extended upwardly above the cap-piece of the window-frame and provided with open slots 15 to receive the spindles upon which said roller turns. The roller 14 is provided adjacent to each end with a surrounding annular collar 16, fast thereon or formedV integrally therewith, as preferred, the said collars being provided each with a peripheral series of teeth 17, which engage the sockets 13 in the side rails of the sash, so that when the roller revolves the sash will slide up or down. The roller 14 is` extended beyond the collars 16 and threaded to receive caps 18, ofinetal, which are screwedv thereon, the said caps being closed at their outer ends, with the exception of a small central circular aperture, which forms a bearing-opening for the spindle at that end of the roller.

19 designates a cylindrical block which occupies a position within and centrally of the roller 14, being of` less diameter than the internal diam etcr of said roller and formed with a longitudinal peripheral rib 20, which cooperates with a similar rib21 withiny the bore of the roller for preventing therotationof said block. The opposite ends ofthis block are turned down or reduced in diameter, as-

shownat 22, to formseatsfor the central portion of the power-spring, (indicated at 23.) The spring 23, although formed of a single piece ofwire,.is what. may be termed a compound spring, being spirally wound in reverse directions each way from the center. The central portion of the spring is left straight, as at 24, andy such straight portion is received in a longitudinal groove25 in-the block 19,y being held therein by soldering, if desired. The inner ends of the coiled portions ofthe spring surround the reduced extremities of the block 19, and suchextremities arealso formed with concentric end sockets 2G, whichI receive the inner adjacent ends of the-spindles 27. The outer endsof the spindles are formed with grooves or socketsl 28 for-'the reception of the opposite terminals-of the spring 23, andthe extremities ofthe spindles are flattened, as shown, for entrance in the slots 15-of thewindow-frame. Then the roller is in position, set-screws 29, passing through the window-frame, arel brought to bea-r against the iiattened extremitiesof` the spindles, thus holding the roller. securely in Vficiently wound to exert a force about equal to the weight of the window-sash. The window-sash is now introduced through the open- IOO IIO

ing V5in the top of the windowfframe, the sockets in its side rails engaging the teeth 17 of the roller. In the downward progress of the sash the spring 23 is wound still further, and it will be seen that when the sash is released the springroller will serve to lift the sash without any further attention on the part of a passenger.

The sash is held closed down by means of a spring-catch 30. This catch Vcomprises a spring 31, secured to the flange 2 just above the window-sill and centrally thereof, the said spring being recurved to form an inclined spring-flap 32, having at it-s extremity a button 33, by means of which it may be manipulated, the said button projecting normally through an opening 34 ina retaining-plate 35, secured over the spring 31 and assisting in fastening the same in place. Secured to the bottom rail of the sash is a keeper 36, having a linger-pull 36n and an odset or hollowed central portion 37, adapted to pass over and embrace the recurved spring 31. The keeper is provided with a spur or projection 3S,which, when the sash isdown, engages a perforation 39 in the inclined flat portion of the spring 31. The spring-catch is thus automatic in its action and may be easily released by simply pressing upon the button referred to. When this is done, the spring-roller 14 immediately acts lto raise the sash in the manner above described. The spring 23 is ordinarily wound sufficiently only to but little more than overbalance the weight of the sash. The hoisting of the sash will thus be gradualand not abrupt and will be the easier to pull down, there being less resistance to overcome.

The window and its sash, where intended for use in cars, arepreferably made of metal, as before stated, but for residences and buildings may be made of seasoned wood, with the exception of the spring-roller and its attachments, which should always be of metal to insure strength and reliability. The roller and the sockets 13 in the sash are ordinarily upon the outside, but in extremely cold climates their order may be reversed, they being located upon the inside.

40 designates a sash check which comprises a sheet-metal frame 41, having at its lower end spaced eye-bearings 42, in which are journaled the opposite transverse portions of a bail-shaped lever or latch 43. its upper end this lever has pivotally connected thereto a reciprocating pin or bolt 44, which passes through the flange 2 of the Window-casing and engages at its inner extremity with any one of a series of notches 45, formed in the bead or tongue 6 of the window-sash. The lever 43 also carries at its upper end rubber bumpers or cushions 46 to deaden the noise of the clicking ot' the check, and the lower arm of the lever has interposed between it and the frame 41 a retracting-spring 47, which serves to uphold the depending operating-chain 4S and to press the pin or bolt 44 toward the sash 4. The frame 41 is extended at its upper edge to form a stop-arm 49 for limiting the outward movement of the lever and the pin or bolt 44, and finally a ring or pull 50 is attached to the lower end of the chain 4S for convenience in operating the same. By pressing upon the button 33 the sash is released and drawn upward by the spring-roller until the first notch 45 in the sash reaches the bolt 44, whereupon said bolt drops into the notch. By now pulling upon the chain 43 the sash will continue to ascend until the chain is again released. When it is desired to lower the sash, the finger-hold 36a is grasped and moved downward, and by reason of the inner end .of the bolt 44 being beveled from the upper side it will not catch 4in the notches so as to interfere with the lowering of the sash.

From the foregoing descriptionit will be `seen that a self-raising window is provided which is thoroughly dust and rain proof and which dispenses with weights, cords, or pulleys yand renders it unnecessary to employ double. windows Ain sleeping-cars, duc. The window constructed in accordance with the foregoing description will not stick or jam, will not rattle, is extremely easy in its operation, and may be stopped at any desired elevation.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without depart-ing from the spirit or sacrific`- ing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A window-sash provided with tongues or beads extending longitudinally of its edges, in combination with a window-casing having side .grooves in which said tongues or beads move, and also having an opening in its sill portion, the said opening extending longituy dinally of the sill and downward entirely through the same and adapted to receive the tongue or bead on the bottom rail of the sash, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a Window-frame having a longitudinal slot or opening vin its sill, of a sliding sash provided as to its bottom edge with a depending longitudinal tongue adapted to enter the slot or opening in the sill, said slot or opening extending downward entirely through the sill, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a window, a window-frame having a iiange extending longitudinally of the sill and projecting upward therefrom, said flange be- Ving provided with an opening or slot extending entirely through it and the sill, in combination with a sliding sash having a tongue or bead on its bottom edge adapted to enter said opening or slot, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a sliding window sash having side rails extending above its top rail, said side rails and their extending portions each having a vertical series of indentations in one of the exposed faces thereof, and the casing within which said sash is IIO mounted to slide, of a spring-roller extending parallel to the sash and provided at or near each end With iiXed peripheral teeth adapted to engage said indentations, said roller being supported in the casing in such position that its peripheral teeth engage the indentations in the extended portions of the side rails when the sash is closed, and a locking device to hold the Window in its closed position against the force of the spring-roller, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a sliding sash, and means for giving the same a normal upward tendency, of a sash-check consisting of abailshaped elbow-lever, a metal frame or clip secured to the easing and having said lever journaled therein and also provided With a stop-arm for limiting the movement of the lever, a reciprocating bolt carried by one arm of the lever and adapted to engage the sash, a spring interposed between the lever and the frame for holding the bolt normally in engagement With the sash, and an operating connection attached to the lever and extending to Within reach of an attendant, whereby the check may be thrown out of action, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence 0f two Witnesses.-

WILLIAM W. TIDD. Witnesses:

W. F. PUFFER, T. E. OWENS. 

